Apparatus for the electrodeposition of metal



March 30, '1937.

APPARATUS F01 THE ELECTRODEPOSITION OF METAL co t/on so! copper' Solo F'iled June 4, 1936 A F. L. ANTISELL SUM 9 Sheet s$heet l INVENTOR &

A pmluaaw March 30, 1937. F. L. ANTISELL 2,075,332

APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRODEPOSITION OF METAL Filed June 4, 1936 9 Shee cs-Sheet 2 MN W NN AWN RN wuw .35s Q NN RN MN NN NM E vmxm N FvlulrvkILITITIENTOR March 30, 1937. ANTlsELL 2,075,332

APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRODEPOSITION OF METAL INVENTOR F MJ MM BMWKX PM" March 30, 1937. F, L NTI LL 2,075,332

APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRODEPOSITION OF METAL I 9 Sheets-Sheet '4 Filed June 4, 1936 March 30, 1937;

F. ANTISELL June 4, 1936 v 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 March'30, 1937. F. L. 'ANTISELL 2,075,332

APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRODEPOSITION 0F METAL I Filed Jupe 4, 1936 9 Sheets-Shet 7 Ma h 30,1937. F L, ANT' ELL 2,075,332 v APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRODEPOSITION OF METAL Filed June 4, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 March 30, 1937. F. ANTISELL APPARATUS FOR THE ELECTRODEPOSITION OF METAL Filed June 4, 1936 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR (0 930% km. oiou Patented Mar. 3Q, 1937 k UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AFPARATUS mffir mcmon sl- I Frank L. Antisell, Wilkinsburg, Pa assignor to Copperweld Steel Company, Glassport, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application June 4, 1936, Serial No. 83,532 In Great Britain December 24, 1932 43 Claims.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for the electrodeposition of metal, andrnore particularly to such apparatus for electrodepositing metal on a core in order to produce a bimetallic article. The invention is particularly described herein as applied to the manufacture of bimetallic articles having a ferrous core or base and a copper coating. Such products supply a large demand in wire, cable, strips, tubes, and the like.

They are of great value in that the ferrous core, such as steel, supplies strength and the copper provides electrical conductivity and resistance to corrosion. The invention is applicable, however, to the production of other combin'ationsmf metals.

coated with copper, nickel or other metal. For trolley wires, a copper core maybe coated with 'iron. Bimetallic articles may be made by depositing nickel or other metal on a core of copper or other metal.- The present application is 'a continuation in part of my copending applications Serial No. 359,624, filed May 1, 1929, and Serial No. 649,532,'flled December 30, 1932.

In accordance with my novel method of producing bimetallic wire as disclosed in said applications, a core is passed through a single electrolytic bathor a series of electrolytic baths and metal is deposited thereon. Moreover, the core is passed through the baths under high tension and it-is rotated about its axis as it is fed through the bath. The core is fed from a pay-reel and I passes through-a series of cleaning baths, after which it passes through a series of electrodepositing baths. It isthen wound up on a take-up reel.

\ Both'the pay-reel and the take-up reel are mounted in frames which are rotatable at substanreels, so that the core is rotated about its. axis as it passes through the baths.

The anode used in the p' cipal electrodepos iting solutions maybe a moving wire, hereinafter termed a drag wire. This drag wire is fed from a reel, and after passing through-the electrodepositing solutions, is wound up on another reel. It moves through the baths alongside of the core which forms the cathode and the metal isdepo'sited from the drag wire onto the core. Instead of or invaddition to the moving drag wire, other use stationary anodes such as slabs'of the metal to be deposited, ormetallic shot, or 'I may use an insoluble anode andadd the metal to be depos ited as a salt or as metal to the electrolyte.

In the accompanying drawings, which illus- A'no'n-ferrous base -or core may be tially-a right angle to the axes of rotation of the 1 types of anode may, however, be used. I may lating the solutions. By tronnel I mean a trough-like structure with open ends in which the electrodeposition takes,place, the electrolyte being supplied thereto at such rate as to maintain the desired quantity of electrolyte therein.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the mechanism at the entrance end of the apparatus for supplying the core to the baths, and shows the pay-reel and the frame in which it is mounted;

Figure 4 is a shown in FigureB;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view showing side elevation-of the mechanism on a larger scale the bull wheel from which the able frame;

Figure 6 is a wheel adjacent wire pays out through the trunnion of'the rotatvertical section through the bull thewobbler ring (the bull wheel has been-turned clockwise in Figure 6 through 90 from the position shown in Figure 5) Figure 7 is a and its driving connections;

Figure 8 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in Figure 7;

.Figure9isa side elevation of the take-up reel 1 transverse section on the line IXIX =0f Figure 3, illustrating the means for mounting the pay-reel and take-up reel in theirframes;

Figures 10 and '11 are, respectively, a sectional view and anelevation of a high current density circular anode used to prevent re-solution of a previously deposited metal;

- Figure 12 is a sectional view. through one of the tronnels illustrating. the contact for the anode or drag wire:

Figures 13 and V vation respectively-a weir in the end of a tronnel 14 show in plan and in end ele- 45 for regulating discharge of electrolyte;

Figures 15 and 16 are views in-plan and in end elevation respectively of a roller-cathode contact; Figures 17 and .18 are views in plan and in end elevation respectively of supporting and compacting rollers;

Figure 19 is a section' on the line of Figure 8, illustrating a clamping means for preventing release of tension on the core;

Figure 20 is a horizontal sectional view through the heating furnace for heat treating the coated wire before it is reeled up; and K Figure 21 is a wiring diagram showing the electrical connections for a number of the tronnels 6 which contain the various baths.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings, and for the present to Figure 1, the core or wire to be coated with metal is fed from a pay-reel 2 through a series of cleaning baths 3, and '0. The cleaning baths may "be of different compositions, but I have found that in. the coating of a steel core with copper, or first .with nickel-or tin and thereafter with copper, eiiective cleaning can be accomplished when the I bath 1 is a soda solution, the bath I is a sulphuric acid solution, and the bath I is a nitric acid solution. The core [then passes through a solu-'" tion of a nickel salt, for example nickel sulphate, in the tronnel I, and after that passes through i a copper solution in the tronnel 8, and thereafter through a plurality of tronnels 9, each of which contains an acid solution of a copper salt such as copper sulphate; The character of the grain structure of the electrolytic deposit of copper is materially aflected by the temperature of the electrolyte. It is particularly important that the initial deposit of copper be fine grained, as the succeeding grain structure built on the initial deposit cannot be good if the initial deposit was poor. In other words, poor grain structure in the initial deposit carries throughthe superposed deposit. Accordingly, the temperature of the solution in the tronnel 8 is lower than the temperature of the solutions in the tronnels 0, the temperature of the former being about 85? F., while thatof the latter ranges from 150 F. to 180 F. After passing through the last of the tronnels 8, the coated wire is heat treated while passing through a furnace F. It will be noted that while undergoing thisheat treatment, the product is under the samehigh tension as prevails during the deposition of the coating metal. After the relatively short interval during which the product is passing through the furnace F, it .is wound up on a take-up reel III which is rotatably mounted in a frame II driven by a motor and gearing i2 so as to rotate the frame'at substantially a right 1 angle to the axis of rotation of the reel ID. The pay-reel at the entrance end of. the apparatus is, mounted iii a similar framework l3 driven by a motor and gearing ll. The construction is such that the core, rotates about its axis as it is advanced through the various baths.

. The tronnels which contain the various solu- 55 tions are U-shaped incross-section, being open at the top and'arranged for the discharge of liquid at their ends;- Accordingly, the tronnels do not, form closed containers for the baths; but on the contrary are either open at their ends or formed with weirs such'as shown in, Figures 13'-and 14. Accordingly, itis necessary to continuously circulate the solution through the tronnels in order to maintain; a desired level ofthe electrolyte therein. The solution in eachtronnel 'flowsput of the ends 'of the tronnel, is llectedrflltered i-f necessary, and then returne the tronnel. As

shown-in Figure 2, thejsolution flows'from the ends of eachtronnel into receivers lI-an'd is con v I 1 ducted byxpi'pes 10 to a sump II, It is then circulated by a pump ll through pipes "and II through anlter I2 I; and thenireturned to thetron- 'nel; Thesolution-in the sump ll'is heated by aistaam p'ipejlwhich is'connected to a steam 7:; 2 3. The of-such open' end tronnels for 50,000 pounds per yield point of the base material.

the solutions eliminates, the necessity of providing stumng boxes, which would be required with electrodepositing tanks of the usual closed end,

construction. The stumng boxes are objectionable for the reason, that the packing scratches a the surface of the deposited metal and may-introduce foreign matter into the deposited metal. Also, by using a series of spaced tronnels instead of a single bath, different solutions can be used in the different tronnels, and these solutions can be filtered and recirculated back to the tronnels. It will be understood that when reference is made to "open end" trpnnels, this does not mean that the ends are absolutely free of any structure impeding the flow of liquid. A weir or baffle 24 such as shown'in Figures 13 and 14 and made of porcelain or glass may be employed, the e ssen-' T .tial thought being that the entrance and exitof the wire is effected without. it passing through stufling boxes or the like. \1

Located between the tronhiels I, I and 5, which contain diiierentcieaningj solutions, are steam nozzles 25 and water nozzles 20 connected by pipes 4 2-1 and 20, respectively, to a steam line 20 and a water line 29. The nozzles 20 and 26 subject the core between tronnels to Jets of steam and water which, taken in conjunction with the various cleaning solutions, produce a very clean wire on which a good deposit of petal'canbe made. An- I other steam Jet 20 is also used between the tronnels I and Ito furth'er clean the core before it' passes into the nickel solution in the tronnel 1. 'It is advantageous in general to coat the core first with a deposit of another metal such as nickel or tin before applying the copper coating. Nickel, which is preferred, readily formsan alloy coating. V

The deposition of copper on the .core which has previously been coated "with nickel begins in tronnel. 8 and is continued in tronnels 0. 7A copper. drag wire 8| is unwound from a reel 02 and travels parallel to the core 0 but in the opposite direction through the tronnels 9. anodes in tronnel [are stationary, of any suitable type, as mds, casting, shot, etc. Hie drag wire 3|. is wound on a reel 33 located ad- Jacent the entrance end of the apparatus. During the deposition process,' the core v0 and the drag wire 3| both move through the depositing baths but in opposite directions. In addition to this, the-core .which is maintained under The both with the steel'core and' with the copper great tension is also rotated about its own a' s,

so that the deposition will be uniform. e tension on the ,core is preferably from 15,000 to The means for supplying the core to the baths is illustrated in Figures 3 to 6. The reel 2 is rotatably mounted ind frame llfso that asthe reel-is rotated about its axis. the care unwind's. from the reel? The frame II is rotatable about its longitudinal axis, which a'xis is at substantially a right angle to the of "the I. The frame is' rotated through a gear I driven by the pinion I4. on ,an' extension of the shaft II. The pay-reel- [is I -mounted'for easy removal from the frames I8.

of J synchronous- "mo and as shown in Figure 9 is provided with hubs 30 which are secured in'place by rods U. The

. in or approaching the 7o, hubs" are supported by cone-shaped bearing a sleeves. 3l"which internally threaded roi- 're- The sleeves re are snuled in'throu'ghthe collector rings 1|.

The core or wire 5. after leaving the payreel 5 2, passes between a pair of rollers 43 and is then 1 wound around a bull wheel 44 from which the wire passes over/guide rollers 45 and through the hollow trunnion 46 of the frame l3. In order to assist in straightening and centering the wire on the axis of rotation of the frame I prefer to mount a roller 41 -at the end of the series of rollers 45 by means of an adjustable .clevis 41a (see Figure 4).'

Means is provided for delivering the core from the bull wheel so that it will be in alinement with the guide rollers 45. For this purpose a Wobbler ring 48 fits around the periphery 49 of the'bull wheel 44. The periphery 49, that is the cylindrical surface about which the turns are wrapped. has a transverse slot 58 which receives the inturned or hooked end of the Wobbler ring 48 with sufficient looseness so that the ring 48 may slide transversely of the periphery 49 while being entrained with the rotating bull wheel. A separate frame 5|, which is stationy, spaced equally about the circumference of the frame) of bearing wheels or rollers 52 mounted on radial axes" and tangential to a helical path. It is this helical path which these rollers 52 force the wobbler ring 48 to follow as the bullwheel rotates. 'the frame 5| being disposed at one side of the bull wheel so as to maintain the rollers 52 against the Wobbler ring.

During paying out of the wire 6 over the bull wheel 44, the turn of the wire in contact with the wobbler ring 48 is gradually forced away from the frame 5|, due to the' helical path followed by the Wobbler ring, until the ring passes over the last or most extended roller, when the ring falls,back to begin the helical path all over again.- The'turns of wire 5 do not, of course slip back with the wobbler ring; and therefore as the periphery 49 again approaches the place for the next turn to be laid on, there is space for it to be laid between the last turn and the wobbler ring. This arran ement delivers the wire from the bull wheel in alinement with the guide rolls.

It has been stated that the core is fed through the bath under hi htension. This tension is accomplished by drivin the'mechanism of the pay-reel by one motor, driving the mechanism of the take-up reel with another motor, and

so relating the speeds" of the two motors as to impart the desired tension to the wire 6. The pay-reel 2=carries 9. 111;: 54 which is adapted to be engaged by a lu 55 on the side face of a gear 55 mounted coaxiallv withthe reel 2. The gear 56 is driven through a gear train 51 and a 0 sprocket shaft 58. this shaft having interposed therein a slip clutch 59 which slips so that when the reel is fulland must turn more slowly than toward the end of the unreeling, excessive strain on the train of gears is avoided. The sprocket;

5| on the shaft 58 is driven by a sprocket chain 8 52 from the sprocket 63 on the driven shaft 54;

, A direct current motor 55 drives through a speed a pinion 68. a gear '59 on the The current for this motor is The driven V shaft 64 carries a pinion I2 meshingwith a gear 13 carried on the side of the bull wheel 44 so as to rotate the latter. I arrangement for feeding the wire fi'which 7 has just been described is preferable for wire of reducer 6'|' having driven shaft. 64.'

carries a plurality (herein there are flve,-'

relatively large diameter which is quite stiff. For

wire which pulls more readily from the reel, it

may be found desirable to hold back rotation of the reel 2 by means of a friction brake as described in my prior application Serial No.'649,532, filed December 30, 1932. The operator, therefore, will beguided by circumstances in selecting the arrangement shown herein according towhich the fr'eel'2 is driven, or the arrangement shown in my 'prior application according to which abrake is applied to the reel 2, so as to obtain the proper tension-on the wire 5 as it passes through-the electrolyte I have found this tension feature to be highly-important in obtaining a satisfactory and uniform deposit.

The take-up reel l0 and its driving connections are illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. The reel is rotatably'mounted' in the frame H in the same" manner that the pay-reel 2 is mounted .in. its

frame l3. The frame H is rotated about its longitudinal axis by the synchronous motor 15 and gearing l2 illustrated in Figure 1. The motors 35 and for revolving the frames I3 and II are synchronous so as to rotate the core about its axis at the same speed at both ends of the apparatus. The core 5, after passing through the last tronnel 9, and then through the furnace F, passes over a shoe 11, then arounda bull wheel 18, and is then wound on the take-up reel l8.

The curvature, of the shoe 'l'l approximates the curvature of the wireipassing over the rollers 45 on the pay reel. The hull wheel 18 is substantially identical with the bull wheel 44 of the" pay reel, it beingnoted that the bull wheel 44 delivers the wire in alinement with the axis of rotation I of the frame l3 while the bull wheel 18 receives the product of the process in alinement with substantially the same axis.

The take-up reel I0 is driven from'a motor 19 which is mounted on the frame ii and rotates therewith. The drive from this motor to the bull wheel 18 and to the reel III has substantially the same arrangement as that forthe pay reel, except that here the coated wire is being wound up. In addition there is a sprocket 8|, drivenin common with the reel in, which is connected by a sprocket chain 82 to a sprocket wheel 83 secured to a screw 84. A traveling guide moves back and forth across the screw 84 which has a return thread cut therein. The guide fingers 85 of the guide 85 are disposed one to either side of the wire 6, and accordingly the wire is caused to lay in a smooth coil on the 'reel l8. Afrod 88 fits into the notches 89 formed in the outer ends pf arms 90 of the guide so as to prevent the guide from rotating with the screw.

The axles 92 of the frame u are mounted in bearings 93. The left-hand axle, as viewed in Figure 7, extends beyond the bearing for' some distance and is provided with contact rings 94.

These rings make contact with brushes 95 which are connected by wires 96 'toa source of direct current. The D. 0. motor 19 is connected to the rings 94 by wires 91 which extend through the axle 92. In the construction just described, the

frame is rotated about its longitudinal axis bythe motor 15 and driving connection l2, and the take-up reel is rotated so as to wind up the core wire by the motor I9 =which is'mountedon the frame and which rota es therewith. It is preferred to have separate motors and driving means for the frame and for the reel.

It will be noted thatboth the motor 55' and the motor 19 are direct current motors. By'rotating the-two motors. at precisely the same speed, the

to keep the wire un 4 o a A tension on' e wire 8 as it travels ugh the tronnels is tained constant. Sho of ideal conditions as to friction in the bearings and source of current. it will be found necessary to regula e the relative speed of the two motors I, and I! so as to maintain this tension within lim its. By maintaining the speed of the motor 18 substantiallyconstant and by speeding up the motor 66, the tension may be decreased; while by reducing the speed of the motor it (the speed of the motor" meanwhile being substantially constant) the tension in the wire [may be built up. In order tolavoid requiring .the services of .an attendant for supervising the speed of the motor 86, I prefer to employ an automatic regulating device such asis shownschematically in Figure 4 'of the "drawings. The thrust bearing II for the trunnion at the outer end'of frame II is linked by chains I andbolts II (which permit ad- ,iustment) to a yoke ill! having knife-edge contact with a lever member I03 pivoted at llil to a vertical frame I05, This lever I constitutes substantiallyia scale beam mechanism, and darries at its outer (lower) end a segmental rack il'l meshing with a pinion Hi8 fixed to.a pendulum III. This pendulum carries a contact Ill forming a part of a control for resistance in the circuit. to the motor 88. By arranging the change in resistance in steps, or by other suitable expedient, the control arrangement is prevented from hun'ting' The bearing for the other trunnion of the frame It afl'ords sufllcient play longitudinally of its axis sothat the entire frame I! is movable slightly along the axis of rotation in conformity to changes in tension in the wire 6. The amount of travel is extremely small due to the long lever arm of the-scale beam mechanism I03. In this manner, changes in tension in the wire automatically bring about changes in the speed of the motor 66, this regulation-having the ieflect'of keeping the tension onthe wire 0 within predetermined limits.

Figure 19 illustrates a device for preventing the rele e of tension on the coated core. It compris ahead i I! which, in the embodiment shown, 'is of truncatedwone-shape secured to the axle v92 of the frame by screws H3. The head is provided with openings ill arranged atan'angle to a each other and converging in a direction opposite to-that in which the core travels. A clamping. law

I I5 is arranged in each of the openings, and a a spring H6 disposed within each opening abuts against the end' fv each jaw H5, tending to force them'toward each other. When the core 0 moves to the right, as viewed in Figure 19, the springs are compressed and the laws are forced into the openings and moved apart a distance suflicient to allow the core to move between the Jaws. However, the coreis prevented from moving to the left since in this direction the springs force the Jaws' together, so that they grip -the core. This i I rangement prevents loss of tension on the core when a full take-up reel is removed and is replaced by an empty reel. I have found that in certain casesit is possible to provide sumcient frictional resistance in theworking parts of the take-up reel that this resistance alone is sumcient dertension when the motor is 'stopped.-

Roller contacts arranged betweenthe tronnels are employed for making the electrical contact H with the core wire 6 which forms a cathode in the process. A preferred form of contact roller is shown in Figures 15 and 16. A copper roller lil '76 a moimted between the arms of a'yoko ill the resulting helical path would coincide with the aforementioned helical contact. Thereby slidingcontact is avoided. a I preferably form the yoke I II with a broad flat bearing surface for the side of the roller I II which is pushed thereagainst by the forward travel of the wire 8. The slots I!!! in which the axes IIO are 15 receivc'd are deep enough to cause substantially,

the entire weight of the roller H1 to bearcon the core] so asto make good electrical conta t. An anode contact isillustrated in Figure 12. The drag wire 3| which forms the anode is supported on a porcelaln base F21 resting on the bottom of the. ronnel which has a, lead lining I22. A contact br h III contacts with the drag wire. Tife core8 is treated between tronnels with a jetor spray of slightly acidulated water. One part of sulphuric acid to one thousand -parts of water may be used. and-it has been found that in this manner the formation of a dark colored stain which otherwise would be fo prevented. I

Contamination of the anode 3| (herein termed the drag wire) by cuprous oxide, if permitted to go on unchecked as the drag wire ls-pulled toward the med on the core is v3o entrance end, will have a deleterious effect upon 35 the deposition of'metai upon core I. The eil'ect of the accumulation of cuprous oxide is particularly damaging to the quality of the deposition during the first part of the travel through %E electrolytic bath or baths. I have found tha a high pressure Jet of water is ,eflective for removing the accumulation of cuprous oxide from the drag wire between tronnels. Such a Jet is shown at l2l,-and impinges upon the anode in the air gap;

:between'tronnels, so that the-anode. enters the 45 next 'tronnel. cleansed of adherent impurities.

In a commercial installation, and'pa'rticularly where a relatively thick deposit of metaion the core wire is desired, the span between thepay-Xeei and'the take-up reel will be too long to avoid sag- 50 ging, unless intermediate supports areprovided. The type of support which I at present prefer is illustrated at II! in Figures 17 and 18, it being understood that the position of a support is inter- I mediate the adjacent ends of two tronnels; i. e. not 55 in the electrolyte but in the air gap between tronn e ls. It is preferable to stagger the supports, DIM? ing one on one side of the core I, and the next on the other side, and so on, as indicated in ll'igurel'l;

The rollers iii are preferably-made of a hard 00 j corrosion resistant alloy, such as iron containing 'about l4 silicon, each roller being mounted on I a non-corrosive stud or pin I 26. r

As indicated in Fl gure 18, the supports lli a} not directly'below't he wire but are staszered so as the wire due to it! tends to wedge itself in between. Moreoventhe type of shown provides point contact with the core. so

that the combined result ofthewedging eifect and of the point contact is a compac el'ectrodeposited metal in the helical paths taken lby'the supporting rollers Ill on the-revolving wire 1" or In order to provide point contact,- each roller III is tapered away in both directions tingactionon the '49 from a ridgawhich alone makes contact with the core 6. The shape of roller-is substantially such as would be obtained by placing together the bases of two truncated cones one of which is more nearly cylindrical than the other. The pins I26 are disposed substantially in a horizontal plane and at such an angle to the direction in which the core 6 is advancing that a helical path is produced without slippage, in the manner explained in connection with the contact roller A great deal of difliculty has been experienced in obtaining a good deposit of copper on the core which had previously been coated with nickel in the tronnel I. It is important to bear in mind that the over-voltage on the wire 6 entering the copper solution in the tronnel 8 is much greater than the over-voltage between a coppercoated surface and a copper electrolyte. 'If a rod, say five feet long, wereicopper-coated onone end and nickel-coated on the other end ,(no etching or bu'iiing of the nickel coating being resorted to), and if such a rod were inserted in a copper plating system, it would be found that the current would flow instantly through the' 5 copper-coated end of the rod but would be delayed in flowingthrough the nickel-coated end. spongy copper of poor bonding quality would be deposited on the rod in such a case. In order to prevent this happening when the wire 6 enters the tronnel 8, I impress a current of high density uponthe core 6 where it first comes in contact with the copper electrolyte, thus ensuring that the nickel coated core is instantly-struck with a uniform, crystalline nucleus on which the remaining copper deposit may form. An excellent union is thus effected between the copper and the nickel.

In order to impress such a current density upon the entering and revolving cathode, I provide a local anode, preferably of the type illustrated l in Figures 10 and 11. .This anode I position at I the point wherethe cathode enters the copper electrolyte; and as shown in Figure 21 I control the flow of current therethrough, connecting this I anode in its own indivlduahcircuit.

an ammeter and a voltmeter are arranged in Preferably,

tends for only a short distance at the entrance of the tronnel 8. It is supported by straps-I3I which fit over the sides of the tronnels.

Current for carrying out the electrodeposb,

tion of the metals is supplied by a series of generators I40, HI and I42 connected, respectively, to motors I43, I44 and I45, and a generator I10 connected to a motor -I1I. The tronnels 3 and 4 are connected intseries with the generator I40 by conductors I46 and I41. The negative conductor I48 of the generator MI is connected to an iron anode I49 in the tronnel 5. The posltive conductor I50 of the generator I H is connected in parallel to a plurality of nickel an deal5l, I52, I53. I54 and I55. The anodes I5I and I55 are connected to the conductor I50 through resistances I56, I51, I58, I59 and I60, respectively. The resistance I 56 is the greatest and I60 is the least, the intermediate resistances decreasing from I56 to I60 as indicated on the drawings.

have the greatest current density at the entrance end of the tronnel, which results in un even deposition o'f'the nickel. The varying resistances I56 to I 60 counterbalance, the resistance of the core wire, thereby equalizing the current densities along the whole length of the wire and causing deposition of metal throughout substantially the whole length of the tronnel.

The circular high current density anode I30 which is illustrated in detail in Figures 10 and 11 is connected by a positive conductor I t7: the generator I42. is connected at the point I61 by a roller contact of the type shown in Figure 16 to the core wire 6. An anode I68 is connected by a positive conductor I69 to a generator I10 which is driven by a motor I. The drag wire 3| is connected at points I12 and I13 within the tronnels 9 by positive conductors I14 and I 15, respectively. Ngative conductors I16,'I11 and I18 connect the generator with points I61, I19 and I80, respectively, on the cathode wire.

The proper spacing of the cathode contacts at fects both the quality of the deposit and the cost of the process. High current densities decrease the total length of tronnels needed to produce The negative conductor-I66 a deposit of a certain thickness, but.the current density cannot exceed a certain amount with out injuring the quality of the deposit. This maximum current density will prevail adjacent the cathode contacts only, and will drop down until a point midway between cathode contacts is reached. With the entering wire carrying ,little or no copper, the drop in current density toward this midpoint is rapid; but toward-the delivery end the drop in current density between cathode contacts becomes slower and slower due to the greater conductivity of the heavily coated wire. In order to keep the current density within the limits which will give a good deposit, I

. preferably increase the distance between cathode contacts in the direction oftravel of the core. If separate baths are employed, the length of the containers or tronnels 9, and the distance between cathode contacts can both be increased.

Th8 increased resistance due to the increased length of the coated core between cathodecontacts compensates for the decreased resistance per unit of length resulting from the increased.

diameter of the coated core as the deposition continues.

The gradual depletion oi the anode wire 3| in moving from the exit end toward the entrance end has a beneficial efiect in promoting the desired distribution of current density along the length of the core 6. As the drag wire 3| approaches the entrance end, the cross section of wire 3! has decreased; and the corresponding lowering of its conductivity promotes the lower current density which should prevail in the siderably greater importance toward the entrance 7,

end.

A number of rollers I25 01 the pointcontact type are preferably used in staggered relation in carrying out the process. ilme use of supports in this relation to thecore is highly advantageous as it permits of handling the wire expeditiously and without any deleterious effects upon the product. The guiding of the wire by means of the supports insures accurate position ing thereof at all times, thereby insuring that proper conditions will be maintained in the apparatus. J v 1 I prefer to usealLof the diil'erent types of contacts for the core which I'have described, the different types of contacts being used at different points in the process. .Thus, in the tronnels, I, 4, I, 1 and 8, it is preferred to use solution contacts, that is, toavoid any mechanical contact the rest of the process. During most of theprocess, it is preferred to use the compression rollers shown in ,Figures 1'7 and 18 to accomplish the c mpression and refinement in grain structure which has been described.

After the coating of the core 8 is completed, I passthe product through a heat treatment zone before it/is wound up on the reel ii). A furnace F of refractory blocks for accomplishing this Figure 20. The heat may advantageously be supplied by a gas burner I85, and the hot gases are caused to flow in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the product 8' to a stack 6. The product 8 is somewhat heated by the gases;

. and is finally highly heated by the flame from the burner I85. This flame (preferably a reducing flame) can play directlyon the. product due to the rotatfon'of the product and its forward 1 A troublesome phenomenon which frequently. accompanies the heating of a copper-coated rod or wire is the formation oi! blisters. Defectswhich are not apparent during or at the completion of the electrodeposition process show up. as

blisters when a heat treatment is applied. Such heat treatment may become necessary, for instance, when drawing the rod or wire through dies to-obtain ilner' gauge wire. I havefound that by heat treating theproduct 6 at the end 5 of the electrodeposition process while it is still under tension and before itis reeled up, the danger of formation of blisters is materially decreased, F

Ihave illustrated and described the present 9 preferred embodiment and manner of spracticing my invention, but it should be understood that the invention may beotherwise embodied or practiced within the scope of the following claims.

I claim: v

, 1. Apparatus of the type described whichcomprises'anelectrolytic bath, means for passing a wire through said bath, means for rotating said wire about its axis while passing through said bath and while maintaining it under tension, and

79 means for depositing metal from bath onto .ing wire from 8 m bath. said .said wire. 1

2. Apparatus of the type described which com- I prises a bath for depositing metal, a reel for sup- 1 for receivbeing rop ng wire to said bath and. a

heat treatment is shown in horizontal section in a core; comp prises a bath for depositing metal,- a reel for supplying wire to said bath-and a reel for receiving wire from said bath, said reels being rotatable in a direction to cause said wire to rotate in the "same direction on entering and leaving said bath, an anode in said ,bath, and ,means forpassing electric current from said anode to said wire while the wire ia passing through said bath.

4. Apparatus of the type described which comprises a bath for deposit! metal, a reel for supplying wire to said bath and a reel for receiving wire from said bath, said reels being rotatable in a direction to cause said wire to rotate in the same direction on entering and leaving said bath, means for depositing metal on said-wire while passing through said bath, and means for supporting said wire. v v

5. Apparatus of the type described which comprises an electrolytic bath, means for passinga wire through saidbath under tension, means for rotating said \wire about its axis while passing through said bath, means for depositing metal from said bath onto said wire, and rotatable. mean's for supporting the wire. 6. Apparatus for the electrodeposition of a coating metal on a metallic base, comprising 'an electrolytic bath through which the base may extend, means for feeding the base metal through the bath, means for rotating the base metal about its axis during such movement,-and an anode extending alongside the path of movement ofthe base.

7. Apparatus for the electrodeposition of a coating metal on a metallic base, comprising, an electrolytic bath through which the base may extend, means for feeding the base metal through. the bath, means for rotating the base metal about der tension.

9. Appara lg for electrodepositing metal on a I g an electrolytic. bath, means for passingtl'ie core as a cathode through the bath from an entrance .end to. an exit end, means for rotating. the core about its axis while passing through the bath, means for passing an anode wire through the bath in the opposite direction to the direction of movement of the cathode, and means for reeling upv thedepleted anode wire at said entrance end.. I

10. Apparatus for electrodepositing metal on a tating the wire about its core, comprising a series of spaced open ended co me nsfor passing acoreasacathode in asubstantlally straight path through the baths, means for rotating the core axially while passing through the baths. and electric contacts for the cathode located between containera.

11. Apparatus for electrodepositing metal on a core compflsinga series of spaced open ended containers adapted hold electrolytic baths tainers adapted to hold electrolytic baths,

metal, means for passing a core as a cathode successively through the baths, means for passing an anode successively through the baths, and jets for impinging jets of water on the anode between baths.-

12. Apparatus for electrodepositing metal on a core, comprising a series of spaced open ended containers adapted to hold electrolytic baths adapted for the deposition of the same plating 'metal,'means for passing a core as a cathode successively through the baths, means for passing an anode successively through the baths, electric cathode contacts located between containers, and electric anode contacts located in the containers.

13. Apparatus for electrodepositing metal on a core comprising a series of spaced open ended containers adaptedto hold electrolytic baths adapted for the deposition of the same plating metal, means for passing a core'as a cathode successively through the baths, means for passing an anode successively through the baths, electric contacts for the anode located in the containers, and jets for impinging jets of water on the anode between-the containers.

14. In combination, an electrolytic bath, means for supplying'a core to said bath, said means comprising a frame rotatable. about its longitudinal axis, a pay-reel mounted in the frame and rotatable about an axis which is at substantially a right angle to the. longitudinal axis of theframe, and means for rotating the frame to cause rotation of the core in the bath about its axis.-

15. In apparatus for the electrodeposition of metal, the combination of an electrolytic bath and means for winding up and rotating a care about its axis, comprising a frame rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a take-up reel mounted in the frame and rotatable about an axis which is at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the frame, means for rotating the frame about its longitudinal axis, and means for rotating the reel about its axis. 1

'16. In apparatus for the electrodeposition of metal, the combination of an electrolytic bath and means for winding up and rotating a core about its axis, comprising a frame rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a take-up reel mounted in the frame and rotatable about an axis which is at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the frame, means for rotating the frame about its longitudinal axis, and means mounted on the frame and rotatable therewith for rotating the reel about its axis.

17. Apparatus for winding up and rotating a core about its axis. comprising a frame rotatable about its longitudinal axis, a take-up reel mounted in the frame and rotatable about an axis which is at substantially a right angle to the longitudinal axis of the frame, means for rotating the frame about its longitudinal axis; an electric motor mounted on the frame and rotatable therewith, said motor havinga driving connection with said reel, and means for operating said motor.

'18. In apparatus for treating wire in which the wire is paid out from a pay-reel, treated, and wound on a take-upreel, the wire being pulled under tension from the first reel by being wound on the second reel, the combination of a frame having at its opposite ends trunnions for rotatably supporting the frame on a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said apparatus, a pay-reel rotatably mounted in said frame intermediate said trunnions on a transverse axis, and guiding means on the rotatable von the second reel, the combination'of a frame having at its opposite ends trunnions for rotatably supporting the frame on a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said apparatus, a pay-reel rotatably mounted in said frame-intermediate said trunnions on a transverse axis, and guiding means for straightening and feeding the wire from the reel through one of said. trunnions along said longitudinal axis comprising a series of rollers'mounted in said frame. Q

20. In apparatus for treating wire in which the wire is paid out from a pay-reel, treated, and wound on a take-up reel, the wire being pulled under tension from the first reel by being wound on the second reel, the combination defined in claim 19 in which the series of rollers isso arranged as to reverse the curvature of the wire passed thereto. i

21. In apparatus for treating wire in which I the wire is paid out from a pay-reel, treated, and

wound on a take-up reel, the wire being-pulled under tension from the first reel by being wound on the second reel, the combination of a frame having at its opposite ends trunnions for rotatably supporting the frame on a horizontal axis' I the wire is paid out from a pay-reel, treated, and

wound on a take-up reel, the wire being pulled under tension from the first reel by being wound on the second re el, the combination of a frame having at its oppdsite ends trunnions for rotatably supporting the frame on a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said apparatus, a pay-reel rotatably mounted in said frame intermediate said trunnions on a transverse axis, and guiding means for straightening and feeding the wire from the reel through one of said trunnions along said longitudinal axis comprising a series of rollers mounted in said frame for engaging one side of the wire and an adjustable roller for engaging the other side of the wire substan-- tially where it reaches said longitudinal axis.

23. In apparatus for treating wire in which the wire is paid out 'froma pay-reel, treated, and wound on a take-up reel, the wire being pulled under tension from the first reel ,by heing-wound on the second reel, the combination of a frame rotatably mounted on a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said apparatus, a pay-reel rotatably mounted'in said frame on a transverse axis, guiding means on the rotatable frame for straightening and feeding the wire from the reel along said longitudinal axis, and means retarding and controlling the feed of wire to control 'the tension of the wire between the two reels of said apparatus. r

24. In apparatus for electrodepositing metal on a core, the combination with an ele'ctrolytic bath and means for feeding the core through the bath under tension, of means for preventing release of tensionon the core. t 25. Apparatus for electrodepositing metal on a core comprising an electrolytic bath, means for 10 passing the core through said bath, means for rotating said core about its agis while passing through said bath, and means for connecting said. core in an electric circuit as a cathode including a roller for contacting the core, the axis of the roller being disposed in such angular relation to the axis of the core that the path of rolling contact with the core is helical. a 3 26. Apparatus for electrodepositing metal on a core comprising an electrolytic bath, means for passing the core through said bath, means for rotating said'core about its axis while pa ing through said bath, and means for connecting said core in an electric circuit as a'ca'thode including a roller for contacting the core and bearing with a substantial portion of its weight on the core, said roller and core angularly contacting each other, the contact of the roller and core defining a helix dueto the simultaneous advanceand ro- 'tation of the wire. a

27. Apparatus for electrodepositing metal on a core comprising a series of electrolytic baths, means for passing-the core through the baths, means for rotating the core about its axis while passing through the baths, and. means for connecting the core in an electric circuit as a cathode including a roller disposed between baths and bearing with a substantial portion, '01 its weight on the core to make electrical contact therewith. the axis of the roller being disposed in such angu- 40 lar relation to: the axis of the core that the path;

or rolling contact with the core 1 helical.

28. In apparatus for electrode itlng'metal on a core, an electrolytic bath, means for passing the core as a cathode through the bath, a plurality spaced anodes in the bath arranged sequentially along the path of travel of the cathode, said anodes having unequal resistances tending to equalize the current density along the cathode. 29. In apparatus for electrode iting metal on 50 a core, an electrolytic bath; means for passing the core as a cathode through the bath, a plurality of spaced anodes 'in the bath arranged sequentially along the path of travel of the cathode, and resistances of different amounts connected to said 55 anodes and tending to equalize the current density along thecathode. t

30. In apparatus for electrodepositing metal on a core, an electrolytic bath, means for passing the core as a cathode through the bath;. a plurality 00 of spaced anodes in the bath arranged sequen tially along thepath of travel of the cathode, said anodes being connctedin parallel'through r e-' sistances to one conductor of a source or electric current, said resistances increasing in amount to- 65 ward the other conductor of the source 01' electric current so as to equalize the current density along the cathode.

31. In apparatus for electrodepositing metal on a core, an electrolytic bath, mean advancing .thecore as a cathode through the'b'a h, and spaced anodes arranged sequentially along the path of travel of thecathode and cooperating with said cathode to bring about the electrodeposltlon oi metal thereon, one oi. said anodes being disposed 75 where electrodeposition' on said cathode begins aorassa I I v and: being connected in a circuit which permits flow or current at diflerent density from that provided tor the subsequent anode or anodes.

' 32. In apparatus for electrodepositing metal on a core, an electrolytic bath, means for advancing the core as a cathode through the bath, and spaced anodes arranged sequentially along the path of travel or the cathode and cooperating with said cathode to bring about the electrodepositlon of metal thereon, one of said anodes substantially surrounding said cathode where electrodeposltion on said cathode begins and being connected in 'a circuit which permits flow of current at diflerent density. from that provided for the subsequent anode or anodes.

33. In apparatus for electrodepositing metal on tating core so as "to mm compacted'hellcal paths' on the deposited coating' oLmetal.

'35. Apparatus for electrodepositing metal on a.

core comprising an electrolytic bath, means for passing the core as a cathode through the-bath. means for rotating said core about its axis while p s g through the bath. and minor-ting means, for the core comprising a plurality -01 rollers which make substantially. point contacts with .the

core? the axes oi! the rollers being disposed 'in thatthe path or rolling contact with thecore is helical.

36. Apparatus a core comprising an electrolytic .bgth, means for passing the core as a cdthode thr the bath, means for rotating said core about its axis while passing through the bath, and supportin means for the core iglinprising a plurality of rollers which are angular in longitudinal section.

and make substantially point contacts withthe' core, the axes of the rollers being disposed in that the path of is helical.

for electrbdepositing metal onsuch angular relation .to' the axis or the core.

such angular relation to the axis 1 the core I .rolling contact with the core apparatus for electrodepositlng metal on a core, an electrolytic bath, means for passing a core as a cathode through said bath. and spaced cathode contacts arranged along the system, the distance between cathode contacts becoming greater toward the delivery end or the apparatus.

comprises an electrolytic bath, means for passing a wire through said bath, means for rotating said wire about its axis while maintaining it under tension,means for depositing metal from said-hath onto said wire, and means tor'heattreating said coated wire while still under ten sion. 3 I

39. Apparatus for electrodeposlting metal on a core comprising a'container for an electrolytic bath, means for passing the core as a cathode of the type described which from an ,entrance end through thebath to an. Q I

exit,end, means for rota through the bath, in

wire-to the bath at. point remote from the thecoreasit travelsor supplying an anode 5 morass:

entrance end, and means for feeding the anode wire through the bath to a point adjacent the entrance end or the bath, the apparatus being so constructed and arranged that the anode travels in the bath only in a direction opposite to the direction of travel of the cathode. 40. In apparatus for electrodepositing metal on a core, a plurality of baths oi-difl'erent metals, means for passing the core as a cathode through the baths successively, and spaced anodes arranged sequentially along the path of travel of the cathode and cooperating therewith to bring about electrodeposition on said cathode, one of said anodes being an insoluble anode of high current density'substantially surrounding said cathode where, having left one bath, it is entering the next.

41. In apparatus 'for electrodepositihg metal on a core, a plurality of baths 0! diiferent metals, means for passing the core as a cathode through the baths successively, and spaced anodes arranged sequentially along; the path of travel of the cathode and cooperating therewith to bring about electrodeposition on said cathode, one of said anodes being an insoluble substantially cylindrical anode of high current density so disposed as to substantiallyvsurround the portion of the cathode which is entering a bath for impressing current at high density on that portion of the cathode which is then entering the bath.

42. Apparatus of the type described comprising -5 a pay-out reel and a take-up reel spaced therefrom, means for feeding a wire from the pay-out reel to the take-up reel and maintaining it in tension therebetween, an electrolytic bath arranged in the path of the wire so that the wire 10 passes through said bath on its way from the payout reel to the take-up reel, means for rotating the wire while passing through the bath, means for depositing metal from the bath onto the wire, and heat treating means through which the is coated wire passes on its way to the take-up reel and while still under tension.

43. In apparatus for electrodepositing metal on a core, an electrolytic bath, means for passing the core as a cathode through the bath. means for 2 rotating the core, and means supporting the core and providing point contacts therewith comprising a plurality of rollers having rounded ridges thereon.

FRANK L. ANTISELL, 25 

